Netherlands extradites 17 Russian intelligence agents
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Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said the government was prepared for any retaliation by Moscow.
PHOTO: AFP
BRUSSELS (REUTERS, AFP) - The Netherlands has expelled 17 Russian intelligence agents who were accredited as diplomats, based on information from its own security services, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday (March 29).
"The reason for this (decision) is information from the AIVD and MIVD showing that the individuals in question, accredited as diplomats at the Russian representations in the Netherlands, are secretly active as intelligence officers," the ministry said.
Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said the government was prepared for any retaliation by Moscow.
"Experience shows that Russia does not leave such measures unanswered. We cannot speculate on that, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is prepared for various scenarios that may occur in the near future," he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Belgium said on Tuesday that it is expelling 21 Russian diplomats on suspicion of espionage.
Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes, who made the announcement to parliament and on Twitter, said the move was coordinated with neighbouring Netherlands, which said it was kicking out 17 Russian diplomats.
Ireland, too, announced it was expelling four Russian diplomats.
Ireland, too, announced it was expelling four Russian diplomats.
